If boho-chic is what you want on your wedding day, then look no further. Rue de Seine, named after the dreamy Parisian neighborhood, features bold yet romantic styles for the bride wanting to create her own rules in bridal fashion. You’ll fall in love with all the designer’s dresses, just as we have!
How It All Began
Michele Corty always knew that fashion would play a big part in her life. Growing up, she was inspired by her mother’s own fashion—ruffled dress, heeled boots, and giant ‘70s glasses. All her school friends thought she was a movie star! It was the first time she realized she could experiment with her own personal style and create magic from there.
After graduating from design school, Corty moved to Paris and traveled throughout France to find artisans that specialized in beautiful lace and textile designs. She was initially drawn to ready-to-wear designs and worked with several fashion brands including American Retro, My Lovely Jean, and ZOEtee’s. While working with ZOEtee’s in 2009, she collaborated with Gwyneth Paltrow on a jersey knit capsule collection—her first official collection.
Getting Into the Bridal Industry
A few years later, she fell in love not only with Paris but with her husband Michael. They were married on Rue de Seine, a street full of passion, artistry, and creativity. Corty designed her own wedding gown, which was bold, romantic, and super comfortable, and knew in her heart that the bridal industry was calling her name.
In 2011 Corty and her new husband moved to New Zealand to start her bridal company. She started with a small team of six people in a shared studio space and a boutique in Newmarket. Her goal was, and still is, to create more relaxed yet fashion-forward designs. She remembers how special she felt on her own wedding day and wants to make sure each bride feels the same way.
The Empire Today
The company has grown significantly from that tiny team of six. Currently, Corty runs a team of more than 90 people at her Auckland atelier. All production takes place in-house—from conception and design to the final product. All gowns, veils, and accessories are made to order, and local manufacturers help bring these beautiful designs to life. Gowns range from size 2-14 and cost between $2,900 and $5,000. Rue de Seine is considered world-renowned—more than 80 retailers across the world sell Corty’s gowns.
Brides will have endless options for their big day. Inspired by fashion and travel, Corty’s gowns are full of traditional silhouettes, boho-inspired embroidery, hand-crochet accents, and beaded florals. The details are equally amazing: beading, illusion, draping, and 3-dimensional floral embellishments, to name a few. Something extra-special to the company is their lace. All lace is exclusively designed for Rue de Seine, so you can’t find it anywhere else!
Besides pouring her heart into her stunning designs, Corty takes a lot of pride in supporting the next generation of creative designers. She donates textiles to a local university; plus, every year she offers 10 positions for new graduates to join her team.
Our Fave Rue de Seine Looks
Courtesy: ruedeseine.com
New to the bridal scene is Rue de Seine’s Wave Rider collection. This newest collection is for the effortless boho bride that still wants feminine flair. The Kylo gown has a great A-line silhouette and a full organza skirt. The embroidery is amazing, but the plunging neckline is a showstopper!
Another feminine choice is the Rafia off-white gown with the silk-lined bodice, demi cap sleeves, and hourglass silhouette. This dress fits the model perfectly and we’re in awe. For something totally unique, the Eden gown with the sienna slip is here to make a statement. We love the high boat neckline and embellished embroidery.
Courtesy: ruedeseine.com
If you loved the last collection, wait until you see the Classics Collection. We are obsessed with all the gowns; it was hard to nail down just a few to feature. Let’s talk about the star in the middle—the Kyara dress. This blush-toned gown is stunning and we’re totally into the architecture-inspired print. The delicate folk-art lace and traditional Indian band work complete the look.
The Sedona gown is giving us Shania Twain vibes for a boho-cowgirl look. The neckline is flattering, and the lace panels created a sculpted fit. The tulle and lace skirt take it up a notch! Geometric cotton and rayon embroidery take center stage in the Bishop gown. The high halter neck gives the dress a slight retro feel, but in a modern way. Pair the dress with the Anika sleeves for extra drama—which we’re totally saying yes to.
